Former West Brom full-back Cristian Gamboa looks likely to leave Celtic after one season, possibly with Anthony Ralston taking his place.
Gamboa started that infamous 7-0 thrashing at Barcelona in the Champions League
It’s fair to say Cristian Gamboa couldn’t rival Scott Sinclair and Moussa Dembele for dream debut seasons at Celtic Park.
Handed just 13 Scottish Premiership starts by manager Brendan Rodgers in 2016/17, a number of Celtic supporters were hoping to see more of the Costa Rican international next season.
However, they may not get their wish as The Herald claims Gamboa could depart Parkhead just twelve months after arriving from West Brom in a £1 million deal.
He will certainly leave with his personal medal collection vastly enhanced as Celtic secured a domestic treble for the first time since 2001. However, after failing to nail down a regular place in West Brom’s starting line-up, you could understand why the 2014 World Cup star may wish to continue his career elsewhere with Mikael Lustig firmly established as Celtic’s first choice right-back.
‘Absolutely outstanding’
And if Rodgers is willing to let Gamboa leave this summer, it will only reinforce just how highly he rates 18-year-old right-back Anthony Ralston.
Anthony Ralston
The Glasgow-born teenager was handed his first-team debut in May’s win against St Johnstone alongside fellow youngster Michael Johnstone and appears to have caught the eye of the Northern Irish manager.
“Anthony was absolutely outstanding,” Rodgers told the club’s official website after that 4-1 win.
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers
“When I first came in, he really impressed me as a 17-year-old. I took him away with me in pre-season and I liked what I saw. He’s a very honest boy – strong, aggressive and can defend but, vitally, he can pass the ball.”
Gamboa’s seemingly inevitable exit appears to have paved the way for a bright future in the first-team for Celtic’s latest teenage prodigy.
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